Do It Yourself Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Workshop Jack Barnett Blair Buselli 1
Agenda Tonight: Tomorrow: – Economics and Cost – More about paperwork – Intro to Photovoltaic – Review of racking (PV) Solar Systems – Inverter Installation – Paperwork & Permitting – Panel Installation – Roofs and How to Mount – Wiring & grounding – Sizing and Layout – Commissioning – Racking Installation – Maintenance Homework Assignment: bring a sketch of your roof space including its orientation and measurements (or estimation). Also make note of any obstructions and possible shading concerns. 2
Most Important Considerations • Site Quality: Orientation and Shading – South(ish) facing roof or nearby area to install a ground-mount – No (or little) shading year around; Use a Solar Pathfinder to check => – Impacts: lower production = less ROI • System Sizing: usually limited by one of – Physical site issues (roof size), or – Available budget (cash to invest) 3
What Will a Solar PV System Cost? • Cost: Approximations/Rules of Thumb: – PA 2015 costs for an “average” professionally installed ‘basic’ PV system: ~ $3.70/watt dc – Or, with DIY labor: ~$2.00/watt dc for just the ‘basic’ materials – Don’t forget permitting and inspection costs • To be certain, get one or more installation cost estimates from certified solar PV installers. Look for a North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) certification. 4
How Do You Make Your Money Back? Three basic ways: 1. Income tax credits 2. Savings from not paying a utility for electricity produced 3. Selling Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) Other grants, financial assistance, or incentives may also be available e.g. farms, small businesses loans, etc. Visit: http://dsireusa.org for a summary of federal & state regulations and incentives across USA 5
Federal Income Tax Credits Federal Individual Tax Credit of up to 30% of cost for new residential renewable energy systems – Does not have to be your ‘main’ home – Only for actual payments (not DIY labor) – Extended through 2019, then reduced % for 2 more years When: filing taxes for the year of the system’s “in - service date” – Use IRS Form 5695 – Must have taxable income to be offset; or can be carried forward, if needed 6
Paying the Utility for Less Electricity PA law requires distribution utilities to provide Net-metering – Meter runs backward! when producing more than you’re using – U tility acts as a ‘virtual battery’ – providing you with a kWhr of credit for each kWhr of excess production from your system – Credits are then used when the household’s electricity load is greater than production (e.g. when sun is not shining) • You must still pay the distribution utility for – monthly connection fees, – demand charges (commercial tariffs), and – for kWhrs used when all credits are consumed • In PA, if you have remaining kWhr credits in the May billing date, the utility will send you a check – BUT using the lower “rate -to- compare” price per kWhr 7
Basic PV System Components 1. Panels to convert sunlight into DC electricity 2. Inverters to convert DC into AC We are using micro-invertors, 1 per panel 3. Racking to hold things in place 4. Wiring to connect everything 5. Grounding/bonding to keep it safe 6. Production meter and/or remote monitoring This is a Grid-tied and battery-less system, so will not function during utility outages. 8
Order of Events 1. Site and Sizing 2. Apply - for permit & interconnection 3. Order Equipment 4. Install 5. Electrical Inspection (required) 6. Final Paperwork submission 7. TURN ON SYSTEM! 9
1. Site and Sizing Roof Space: – Will It Fit? MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE!! – Panels: ~40” Wide x ~65” Tall – 9, 12, 15 panels? – Roof Age, Roof Type: Metal or Shingled No Obstacles: Vent, Chimney, Trees, Satellite dish South(ish) Orientation without Shading: – Want Sun All Day!! Best: 6+ hours/day, all year – Use a Pathfinder 10
2. Apply A. Utility Interconnection - Part 1 Google: [utility name] interconnection agreement – Inverter Spec Sheet “DATA SHEET” – Application – Fee?? – Site Plan – 1 Line Electrical Diagram 11
3-Line Electrical Diagram 12
2. Apply (continued) B. Community Permits (if required) – Everything from Interconnect – Plus data sheet on solar panels, racking, engineering reports – Fees vary significantly 13
3. Order Equipment Approved! Now What? Order Equipment • At least 2 weeks in advance • Tracker Trailer Lift-gate Deliver Service 14
4. Install - Prep Tools Needed: Misc Equipment: • • Stainless-steel Lag Ladders/scaffolding Screws/bolts • Safety Harness & Line • Roofing Caulk/Silicone • Chalk Line • Outdoor Zip-Ties • Cordless Drill/Wrench • Copper #6 wire • Hand Tools • Ground Rod & nut • Ratchet and Sockets • Weatherproof Junction Box • Pencil, Crayon, Sharpie • 12/3 Romex wire • • Tape Measure Conduit (if external) • • 20A 240v Circuit Breaker Hammer • Exterior AC disconnect switch • Saw • Meter base (for optional • Caulk Gun production meter) • Volt meter 15
4. Install: L-Feet • Find Array Center, Top and one Side Edge • Find Rafters 48” - 64” • Layout the Feet – Height on Panel - 12” -15 ” (from top & bottom) – Width on Panel – no more than 12” – Pre Drill (no larger than lag bore without threads) • Install with Stainless-steel Lag – Silicone (or gaskets provided) 16
4. Install: Rails • Rails – Align Starting End (either left or right) – Let other end run wild (saw off later) • Splice Bars • Bonding Lugs • Bonding Wire 17
4. Install: Inverters • Attach Inverter Trunk Cable to backside of Rails – Terminate one end – Zip-tie so no cables touch roof surface • Attach Inverters – On to upper rail under each panel location – Attach copper bonding wire – Attach AC Connector to Trunk Cable – Zip-tie so no cables touch roof surface 18
4. Install: Inverters 19
Day 2: Do It Yourself Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Workshop Jack Barnett Blair Buselli 20
Agenda Yesterday: Tonight: – Economics and Cost – More about paperwork – Intro to Photovoltaic – Review of racking (PV) Solar Systems – Inverter Installation – Paperwork & Permitting – Panel Installation – Roofs and How to Mount – Wiring & grounding – Sizing and Layout – Commissioning – Racking Installation – Maintenance Homework Assignment: bring a sketch of your roof space including its orientation and measurements (or estimation). Also make note of any obstructions and possible shading concerns. 21
Order of Events 1. Site and Sizing 2. Apply - for permit & interconnection 3. Order Equipment 4. Install 5. Electrical Inspection (required) 6. Final Paperwork submission 7. TURN ON SYSTEM! 22
One Line Diagram 23
4. Install: Panels • Connect both DC connectors to Inverter – Zip-tie as needed • End Clips – 12” - 15” Rule • Click, Zip, Clips • Click, Zip, Clips • Click, Zip, Clips • End Clips 24
Here’s what’s it looks like from below: 26
4. Install: Wires • Trunk Cable to WP Junction Box • 12/3 Romex from WP Box to Sub-panel and/or Production Meter – Conduit required if exterior • Then to Outside Disconnect (near utility meter) • Disconnect to Breaker – Bottom of Panel Box – Labeled • Bonding Wire to – Ground Rod and to – Existing House Ground 27
4. Install: Test it • CHECK VOLTAGES • TURN ON (briefly) • COMMISSION – Internet Web Page 28
5. Electrical Inspection • Meet With Inspector On-site • Needs to sign off on – Part Two of Utility Interconnection paperwork, – And “Cut In Card” (also from Utility website), – Plus Community Permit (if applicable) 29
6. Paperwork – Part 2 • Send Utility: Part 2 of Interconnection and Cut-in Card • Wait • WAIT • WAIT!!! 30
Turn on System for Real • SAVE money • SAVE environment • SAVE sanity • Annual Maintenance: – Check wiring insulation for wear – Clean panels (optional) 31
Recommend
More recommend
